I hope to reach final - Pereira

Experienced Portugal international, Joao Pereira, believes the Cape Town Cup gives Sporting Clube de Portugal a fantastic opportunity to ready themselves for the season ahead.

"I expect a difficult match on Friday because it is our first official match. But we have to put in the field what we have been trainig this last month and I hope we win and go to the final (on Sunday).

Asked for his views on the four-team tournament, Pereira said: "It is very important because this is an international tournament.

"You have the teams from South Africa and Crystal Palace too so it is decent football and we hope to do well," said Pereira.

"We hope to play in the UEFA Champions League and in this competition you have many types of different football so this is good preparation."

Supporters can expect Sporting to play a similar game to what South African clubs try to play - a short passing game that is both fluid and entertaining.

Asked for his view on this, Pereira said: "The style of our coach is short passing and a game that entertains.

"We hope that we can put what we have been training onto the field and I hope we make the people enjoy the game."

Pereira (31) has over 40 caps for Portugal and featured at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He was born in Lisbon and was developed at Benfica with whom he made his professional debut.

The right back went on to play for Gil Vicente, Braga, Sporting, Valencia and Hannover 96 before returning to Sporting.